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EA encourages you to sexually harass their boothbabes

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http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/07/ea-puts-sexual-bounty-on-the-heads-of-its-own-booth-babes.ars

Ugh... I'm really not one to go on about feminism, but is this in awful taste or what? Having booth babes is one thing, but to explicity encourage and reward disrespectful behaviour and 'acts of lust' towards them is another...

thoughts?

Replies

  • aesir
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    aesir polycounter lvl 18
    I'm guessing they didn't hire the typical models for that position. Maybe dropped on by the gentleman's club to find some talent for this :)
  • oXYnary
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    oXYnary polycounter lvl 18
    We wonder why half the population isn't more involved with games with this shit happening.

    This might even be seen to break the laws by a some. EA marketing sucks and treats the gamer like a stereotype hormonal teen. Remember the brass knuckles?
  • NyneDown
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    NyneDown polycounter lvl 11
    That's some pretty off the wall marketing strategy. Sex sells but to encourage that type of behavior to young dudes sends out the wrong message, me thinks.
  • Quaggs
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    Quaggs polycounter lvl 18
    Reading the actual flyer or whatever it really doesn't seem to me that it encourages committing sexual harassment. I'm reading it as 1) Commit an act of lust - Take photos with us or any booth babe, the article seems to spin it like this 1) commit an act of lust and take a picture of it. its really just a terribly worded phrase IMO. however seeing as one person has already interpreted it in that way I'm sure attempted groping and whatnot will be an issue.
  • Ferg
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    Ferg polycounter lvl 17
    what? sexual objectification of e3 booth babes? well I never
  • Justin Meisse
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    Justin Meisse polycounter lvl 18
    translated ---> act like you usually do and send us the pictures. One of the booth babes for DiRT at this years E3 was a porn star who won "slut of the year" or some-such title.
  • killingpeople
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    killingpeople polycounter lvl 18
    "those poor, poor women"

    whaaatever
  • [Deleted User]
    And what, the models didn't get a copy of the contract before signing it, didn't know what they were getting into? Are they somehow ignorant of the fact that their whole job revolves around their willingness to objectify themselves? Let's not pretend they're somehow victims here
  • Jeremy Lindstrom
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    Jeremy Lindstrom polycounter lvl 18
    just a matter of time, before one of them gets bent over and raped and some jackass sends in the pic wanting his prize.
  • sampson
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    sampson polycounter lvl 9
    while its probably wrong.. if the models dont like it they shouldn't do it.
  • Vrav
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    Vrav polycounter lvl 11
    A sinful night? I think that's just a bit too out there. I hope bodyguards for the women come along.
  • EarthQuake
    pix or it didnt happen
  • crazyfingers
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    crazyfingers polycounter lvl 10
    This is why I'll never go to comic con

    Get a giant crowd of people you can't stand together and surround them with porn and comics. Good god
  • HntrLuc
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    HntrLuc polycounter lvl 18
    MAYBE ea is only hiring girls who are aware and ok with this.

    but even if they are, theyre still encouraging "participants" to get pics with ANY booth girl, not just their own.
  • oXYnary
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    oXYnary polycounter lvl 18
    (OT) Crazy.. heh... You should read this. ;)

    loboconventionspecial_1.jpg
  • killingpeople
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    killingpeople polycounter lvl 18
    i hear it's really easy to get laid at comic con
  • aesir
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    aesir polycounter lvl 18
    i hear it's really easy to get laid at comic con

    has noelcower been ramblin about this again?
  • jec1183
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    jec1183 polycounter lvl 18
    Obviously the wording in the promotional material for the competition was horribly done and it is easy to see that this will be taken the wrong way by many people, especially given the target audience. I am going to try and see two sides to the whole situation:

    1) The promotion material was horribly done and droves of comic geeks will take this way to far, to the point of sexual harassment which is regrettable.

    2) The steps really shouldn't have those titles to go with them but just the text below. If you leave the titles out of it then it is easy to see that they are not asking you to take explicit pictures with the women.

    The real steps are:

    1) Take photos with us or any booth babe

    2) Twitter post or email the picture of you with the booth babe

    3) "Find" more babes for more chances to win

    In that respect they are not asking you to commit sexual harassment, just take pictures with as many of the booth babes and EA personnel that you can find.

    The description of the date/party night you will be going on if you win is also just a play on words which is linked with the game that is being promoted, nothing more. You will probably just be going to some after parties which are always accompanying any convention.
  • Jesse Moody
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    Jesse Moody polycounter lvl 17
    oh man the things I would do would end up becoming an episode of Law and Order: SVU or CSI: Miami.

    I've got a very dirty mind and no filter...
  • Colemerson
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    Colemerson polycounter lvl 10
    Reading this stuff all day... ugh...

    What a bunch of horrible over reaction to something so trivial. I'm sorry but I can't consider something sexist when the women effected choose to participate, fully understand and accept what they are getting into.

    Now watch them end up banning boothbabes from comic con like they did E3 cause of "sexism".

    You can argue that the contest play on words may not have been the wisest decisions since some may take it too literally. Which is apparent from the hundreds of comments on Kotaku thinking this is gonna get someone laid.

    Anyways taking pictures with booth babes is nothing new and I highly doubt anyone is gonna try and rape someone while 1000's of people are walking around.

    "judge's reserve the right to disqualify any submission that are "inappropriate for any reason, including without limitation, for depicting or mentioning sex, violence, drugs, alcohol and/or inappropriate language."

    I'm gonna laugh when its just couple escort models that accompany you to a party or sit by you when you get to play a build of the game.

    /rage
  • seforin
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    seforin polycounter lvl 17
    man one round of slap ass and I could have had a prize?


    WTF I need to go to more of these conventions
  • Slainean
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    Slainean polycounter lvl 18
    oXYnary wrote: »
    We wonder why half the population isn't more involved with games with this shit happening.

    This might even be seen to break the laws by a some. EA marketing sucks and treats the gamer like a stereotype hormonal teen. Remember the brass knuckles?

    And the fake religious protest? Great job, guys.

    Colemerson wrote: »
    I'm sorry but I can't consider something sexist when the women effected choose to participate, fully understand and accept what they are getting into.

    Just because there are women who are ok with it doesn't mean it's not sexist. That's like thinking you are free and clear to make racist comments because you have a black friend. Somehow their presence is a magic get-out-of-jail-free card.

    I feel like most people only think of racism/sexism in extremes and overlook the commonplace, everyday forms of it (especially in terms of sexism). That said, I find this to be more creepy and lame than anything else.
  • Kevin Johnstone
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    Kevin Johnstone polycounter lvl 18
    I just want to say ' Won't someone please, think of the children'. No real reason or nothing, just trying to join in with the drama :)
  • Murdoc
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    Murdoc polycounter lvl 11
    Fact: Most booth babes are strippers the other 360 days of the year
    Fact: If the worst thing they do is get their picture taken by a bunch of nerds that day, they'd probably consider that a pretty good day.
  • Slainean
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    Slainean polycounter lvl 18
    Murdoc wrote: »
    Fact: Most booth babes are strippers the other 360 days of the year
    Fact: If the worst thing they do is get their picture taken by a bunch of nerds that day, they'd probably consider that a pretty good day.

    I'd guess most of them are models or actresses but since you prefaced it as a fact I guess I can't argue. :\

    I doubt any of them would take the job if they had a serious problem with it, though.
  • [Deleted User]
    Slainean wrote: »
    Just because there are women who are ok with it doesn't mean it's not sexist. That's like thinking you are free and clear to make racist comments because you have a black friend. Somehow their presence is a magic get-out-of-jail-free card.
    Not at all a fair analogy. Nobody is saying you're free to molest women because you know one.
  • Colemerson
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    Colemerson polycounter lvl 10
    You can't participate in something knowing it is going to objectify you and then cry foul when someone does objectify you. If it was that big of an issue you shouldn't have participated. Of course this only applies on an individual bases but you can't demand something on someone else if your unwilling to do it for yourself.


    I'm sure addressing all the model and boothbabes in the world to quit their jobs to reduce the projection of this image they put out into society of women as objects would have a far greater impact in reducing sexism...

    That is if their were any more actual sexism here than normal, Which if anyone on the billion of websites who had actually ran this story would know if they had read the contest rules.

    1. How to Enter. Visit Comic-Con International ("Comic-Con") at the San Diego Convention Center, 111 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101 between 10:00 am Pacific Time on July 23, 2009 and 11:59 pm Pacific Time on July 24, 2009 ("Photo Period"), and take a photo ("Photo") of yourself with a costumed EA booth spokesperson (hereinafter "Spokesperson") or any other costumed spokesperson at Comic-Con or outside of Comic-Con.

    6. Prizes. (a) Grand Prize: Grand Prize Winner will receive an invite to an invite-only Comic-Con event (the "Event"), to be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, where Grand Prize winner will be escorted by two costumed representatives. Approximate Retail Value of Grand Prize: $595.00.


    Taking a photo with a costumed spokesperson is nothing unusual and I never heard people going on about it before.

    Everyone saw a contest with the words "Commit act of lust" and "boothbabe" and decided to draw incorrect conclusions and act like the world imploded.

    Too many people trying to find offense with something they completely ignored the thousands of times it occurred before.
  • glynnsmith
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    glynnsmith polycounter lvl 17
    If they don't want to be objectified, I guess we all have our EA knuckledusters they mailed out last year.

    Right? Guys?

    ...
  • achmedthesnake
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    achmedthesnake polycounter lvl 17
    sex sells, cause mirrors edge certainly aint!
  • crazyfingers
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    crazyfingers polycounter lvl 10
    oXYnary wrote: »
    (OT) Crazy.. heh... You should read this. ;)

    loboconventionspecial_1.jpg

    Just checked this out. Was never exposed to many comics, but this one was pretty fun ;) kinda see why people get into this stuff. I dig the part where the navy bombs the #*(&$ outta the con too, haha.
  • dippingsauce
    Clearly there's a difference between taking it super literally and assuming these women are going to be RAPED simply because EA "appeared" to condone it-- and recognizing it as an attempt at some tongue-in-cheek marketing.

    And who cares if in their fine print they outline that what they only REALLY meant was for people to take pictures with their representatives-- does that negate the fact that the entire way they went about it reeks of douchbaggery? No, not to me. There has to be other ways of promoting games without alienating the female audience.

    I'm not trying to promote/enforce feminism on you all or anything, but it'd be nice if one less industry, particularly the one I'm part of, didn't disrespect my gender so blatantly and then continue to shrug it off like it hasn't done anything wrong.
  • Slainean
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    Slainean polycounter lvl 18
    Kaskad wrote: »
    Not at all a fair analogy. Nobody is saying you're free to molest women because you know one.

    How is yours a fair analogy? I used an example of someone expressing objectionable ideas/attitudes, which is what this is about - not physically violating someone.

    Anyway, it's true that this single story is pretty trivial, but it's still worth talking about since sexism is particularly egregious in the games industry.
  • HonkyPunch
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    HonkyPunch polycounter lvl 18
    Nothing bad will come of this.
  • Snowfly
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    Snowfly polycounter lvl 18
    oo offensive!
    edit, i like this picture better. fallout babes!
    5731_545496968068_52705516_32244917.jpg

    it gets worse, they're running through the 7 deadly sins...next up is a burger eating competition with pictures :o sloth was in the works but they kinda decided it wouldn't be easy to pick a winner...
  • Steve Schulze
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    Steve Schulze polycounter lvl 18
    Whether those involved have given their ok to the proceedings, it does reflect rather badly on the industry and on gamers. My reflection is bad enough as it is, EA.
  • c0ldhands
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    c0ldhands polycounter lvl 15
    Dont know about you guys but I usually dont like to go up to booth babes and ask if I can get a picture with them, I think I can manage to take enough photos of me and beatiful women without the opposite sex beeing paid for that. Just saying, booth babes should be admired like supercars, its maybe ok to take a photo, but dont try to hit on them or take advantage of the situation, thats not gonna work.
  • Andreas
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    Andreas polycounter lvl 11
    Colemerson wrote: »
    Reading this stuff all day... ugh...

    What a bunch of horrible over reaction to something so trivial.

    You hit the nail on the head. Next!
  • Junkie_XL
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    Junkie_XL polycounter lvl 14
    429200825033PM_493.jpg


    I love topics like this because I despise government and those who 'might' endorse ideas that the government should "step in".

    It comes down to this, do you believe in freedom of choice or not? Freedom shouldn't be ideas that only you approve of OP. In a free society EA can do what they wish. And the girls getting paid can choose to go along with it or not.

    When you defend freedom and you defend freedom of choice you can't be picking and choosing how people use those freedoms.

    My advice is to "turn the other cheek". I personally get a bit squeamish with the topic of homosexuality. A lot of people secretly do without saying anything. But you can't be an advocate for freedom and the constitution while trying to limit someone elses freedoms; like banning gay marriage. I may find it morally repugnant but I as an individual should have no say in making that kind of judgment for another individual.

    When people start endorsing the idea that government should protect people from themselves is the moment you plant the seeds for a tyrannical state.
  • Zwebbie
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    Zwebbie polycounter lvl 18
    Anyone remember when the media were supposed to teach kids moral lessons? Well, neither do I, they abandoned that long before I was born.

    Personally I think EA is just trying to make Dante's Inferno so ridiculously against the spirit of the original book that we can finally see if spinning in the grave is actually possible - if Dante won't come back from the dead in anger of this, zombies are proven to be 100% impossible. It's science.
  • Steve Schulze
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    Steve Schulze polycounter lvl 18
    TANθ=Junkie_XL
  • Mark Dygert
    Taking a pick of yourself with a booth babe is an act of lust that is punishable by law?
    Then Mickey Mouse is big trouble, all those kids...

    The part that gets me is not so much the "act of lust" but the prize for the winner. "We will hook you up with a limo and 2 hot chicks (who wouldnt touch you with a 50ft pole but we are paying then so its cool), the rest is up to you". No doubt it wont have a happy ending, but its kind of a slam to the booth babes and the guy who wins. Whats the matter guy cant get your own limo and hot chicks?

    Sweet you win a pity date!

    Since when did Dante ever give out pirate swag "chest full of booty?" who writes this stuff?
  • IronHawk
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    IronHawk polycounter lvl 10
  • [Deleted User]
    Slainean wrote: »
    How is yours a fair analogy? I used an example of someone expressing objectionable ideas/attitudes, which is what this is about - not physically violating someone.
    First of all, I didn't make an analogy.

    Second of all, yours isn't valid because these women have been paid to do this, knowing full well what the job was. It is not at all analogous to making a black joke because you have a black friend - that's you setting up a straw man.

    Anyway, I'd be pretty surprised if any of this marketing bullshit EA is pulling will even work. I don't know anything about this game, and all the fake protest and this booth babe stunt have done is make me think the game must be crap if they can't advertise it based on its own strength.
  • oXYnary
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    oXYnary polycounter lvl 18
    Junkie_XL

    Whether knowing it or not, you make a underhanded implication that any women who do have issues with this are 'ugly". Wow. That's a great way to keep the status quo. Keep them quiet or be afraid to be singled out.

    God I hate Patriarchy archaic viewpoints. The ones that don't even realize what they are doing.

    As for the rest, I do not agree nor disagree. Its something that does not belong in this thread. No one mentioned making laws afaik. There has been mention this could be potentially legally troublesome depending on the outcome with existing laws.

    Here is something for you. Why are there not booth hunks at EA as well? Why is the target audience again and again the prepubescent male? Why cannot a female get her picture taken while "lusting" over a male.

    Oh thats right, because as has been said, the inmature majority of this field are grown little boys.


    Anyhow.. Sorry. Got ranty.

    *Goes and plays with his TMNT action figures..
  • [Deleted User]
    car-babe-mazda-rx7-57.jpg

    PP0375~30-Reasons-Why-a-Beer-is-Better-Than-a-Woman-Posters850ac584-cac8-4568-80a7-4a0bb86632de.jpg

    quinn.jpg

    Dolce-Gabbana-Ad-Sexist.jpg

    sexy-aussie-lee-ad-300x210.jpg

    The game industry is so juvenile.
  • oXYnary
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    oXYnary polycounter lvl 18
    Yes, I see your point. It doesn't justify us, with "they can do it so why cant I?". That and being a skin flick for a car mag and signing autographs from slobbering Nascar fans is different than posing yourself with fake sexual acts as a object towards a "prize". That's what adult night clubs are for.

    Again, I pose, if we have gender equality, why are there not booth hunks available as well for this PR event?

    My point is that we have no reason to be something that is soo gender specific. We are growing global media and communications resource. As I have said, that's half the population. Its ourselves keeping ourselves from growing up as it were.
  • stimpack
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    stimpack polycounter lvl 10
    Ill go as a booth hunk! wheres my MONEY!?
  • [Deleted User]
    oXYnary wrote: »
    Yes, I see your point. It doesn't justify us, with "they can do it so why cant I?"
    The question I would pose is, "why can't they"

    If the women are willing, paid participants, what is the problem here
    oXYnary wrote: »
    That and being a skin flick for a car mag and signing autographs from slobbering Nascar fans is different than posing yourself with fake sexual acts as a object towards a "prize". That's what adult night clubs are for.
    If you can look at the pictures I posted and see something other than base objectification, I would question the fundamentals of your position
    oXYnary wrote: »
    Again, I pose, if we have gender equality, why are there not booth hunks available as well for this PR event?
    Because whatever your idea of gender equality is, the marketing people don't give 2/5s of a goddam. Objectifying hot women works! Or at least marketing thinks it does, which, honestly, probably means it does - remember, this is their job

    Anyway the point I was trying to make up there is that everyone always says that games are overly targeted at the teenage male demographic... well, let's be honest. Plenty of stuff caters to that demographic, and a lot of it is far older than our industry. The problem here isn't video games. It's systemic.
  • oXYnary
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    oXYnary polycounter lvl 18
    Kaskad wrote: »
    The question I would pose is, "why can't they"

    If the women are willing, paid participants, what is the problem here

    Because for one, its not a private club. This is a general audience event. People cant sign there rights away, if some sexually repressed picture taker or winner goes too far, there will be legal repercussions. Did Marketing even really show legal how they were going to term the contest?

    If you can look at the pictures I posted and see something other than base objectification, I would question the fundamentals of your position

    There is total objectification. My point is if you have one, then you should have both. You make an assumption I am against objectification. No, I am more against patriarchal objectification. Which means objectification that does not objectify both sexes for the gratuity of the other. Your pictures wouldn't be this type because the woman are in submission to the male models. Most other species its the male that has to beauty themselves up to attract a female.

    There is anthropological historical evidence that there used to be more matriarchal societies. But patriarchal ones have buried these. Sometimes by making the goddesses from the matriarchal the demons or evil dooers of the patriarchal society.

    Because whatever your idea of gender equality is, the marketing people don't give 2/5s of a goddam. Objectifying hot women works! Or at least marketing thinks it does, which, honestly, probably means it does - remember, this is their job

    Anyway the point I was trying to make up there is that everyone always says that games are overly targeted at the teenage male demographic... well, let's be honest. Plenty of stuff caters to that demographic, and a lot of it is far older than our industry. The problem here isn't video games. It's systemic.

    Or its a marketing staff without any original ideas left. :D;) Dont tell me I <3 bees didn't work for Halo 2.
  • Pope Adam
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    Pope Adam polycounter lvl 11
    do you get bonus points for fisting the booth babes?
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